Wolves/Lakers, Nuggets/Clips

Kelly Dwyer

19 Apr 2025 — 9 min read

NO. 6 TIMBERWOLVES

C: Rudy Gobert – had much to take on, with Karl-Anthony Towns out of town, handled it without complaint or reflex. Dominated down the stretch of the season, Wolves should be full of confidence in Minnesota's big center heading into the postseason and yes I just realized what I did.
F: Julius Randle – all-time rough playoff performer should be able to build his way toward postseason respectability in this series, win or lose, he's smart and he'll find buckets and locate teammates. Things are different in Minnesota's offense, he won't be asked to spot up all the time, or face-up in a triple-threat with everyone watching.
F: Jaden McDaniels – steadily two-way'ing it, all manner of clever finishes around the hoop, his numbers from the field are down but I trust him, I trust him. Doesn't mean you should, just means I do.
SG: Anthony Edwards – kickass player who might choose this time to unleash a monthlong 50-percent streak on pullup threes. May also hit 22 percent of them, if this is the case, the streak only lasts a week. Will fight with Julius Randle for a few defensive rebounds, it may cost the Wolves a break, but Julius will learn: Edwards is the quickest way toward putting a decal on the home floor.
PG: Mike Conley Jr. – suited up against Antonio McDyess in his first playoff game. In his first playoff game, McDyess suited up with or against future NBA head coaches Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro, Monty Williams and a Suns center named "Mike Brown" with is the same name as an NBA head coach (Mike Brown).

I could do this for days. Mike Brown, in his first playoff game, suited up against Bill Walton and the Boston Celtics but I can't find the exact moment he checked in.

Naz Reid, also quite a bit to deal with in KAT's departure, balancing his act with every new game ... Nickeil Alexander-Walker gave up shots this year and needs to be paid, bummer it may not be with the Timberwolves, we hope NAW sticks to the plan in the postseason ... Any aching remnants of Donte DiVincenzo's big bum toe should be made slightly easier by a long weekend in Los Angeles followed by a long weekend at home. The Timberwolves must be awfully happy Donte quit soccer when he did.

Jaylen Clark, 23-year old rookie and plays like it, shot over 40 percent from deep, eight turnovers in 522 minutes, eight ... Rob Dillingham hasn't played any real minutes in two months but it would be nice to see him let loose against a larger Laker lineup, maybe even Gabe Vincent, let's watch Gabe try to play Dad.

Joe Ingles is here in case anyone needs an inbound pass or someone to drive stick.

These teams split the four-game season series. Only met once after The Big Lakers Trade, a Laker win during which Rudy Gobert was sidelined.

NO. 3 LAKERS

C: Jaxson Hayes – career-high block rate and field goal percentage.
F: LeBron James – four fewer games than Zach LaVine, three more dunks (71 in 70 games) than former Dunk Contest participant Zach LaVine. Zach wins this, because he participated in the Dunk Contest, exhibited artistic risk, put himself out there. LeBron wins everything else, Saturday will be LeBron's 288th playoff game, he's worked 11,858 postseason minutes. He's basically played Ben Simmons' NBA career (11,910 regular season minutes) but in the playoffs. I've got others: Alex Len, Dion Waiters. LeBron James has played an entire Joe Harris career in the NBA playoffs.
F: Rui Hachimura – becoming slicker by the game, confident in his frame, not going to do a third rhyme in this bit because that would be la- I mean dumb.
SG: Austin Reaves – six turnovers in three contests against the Wolves, had twice as many against the Thunder. Ability to hang onto the rock amid pressure is what could drive this series. That, and Austin's ability to score in transition. Clearly I don't care about defense.
G: Luka Dončić – back to his usual self, and able to take a few days off before the postseason, doesn't matter, Wolves will make him uncomfortable. It may not matter, Dončić could coast all game or cram late in the fourth quarter, but he'll sweat.

Count me in as one of those who didn't think Dorian Finney-Smith would have this much energy, what an addition. One of the NBA's key bench performers in 2024-25, his talents might be lost a bit in this Timberwolves series. More time to concentrate on those three-point legs, DFS hit a yes-we'll-take-that 40 percent from deep as a Laker.

Dalton Knecht doesn't do anything yet but hope those attempts from the field go in, the 24-year old (Happy Birthday, Dalton) managed but 84 free throws in 78 rookie outings ... Addition of DFS' outside shot allowed Jarred Vanderbilt to relax and defend and maybe cut once in a while. A very capable player who could crush some Minnesotan hopes in late April

Absolutely adore what Jordan Goodwin does, he immediately hits the right spot in a broken play, falls back on fundamentals in a space where others would do too darn much, very interested to see how J.J. Redick treats him within the playoff rotation ... Gabe Vincent's bounce back year is an utterly welcome sight, he's so often in the right places on the court, it was a bummer to watch so many of Gabe's good shots go bad in 2023-24. The counter moves back to zero after a 40/35/71 season for Mr. Vincent, I wish his arc the best of luck.

SAT, TUE, FRI, SUN, WED, FRI, SUN

Timberwolves take Game 1, Lakers win series in seven.

NO. 4 NUGGETS

C: Nikola Jokic – three regular season with the Clippers featured his worst Offensive Rating against any other team. For the curve's sake, he averaged 28 points on 54/52/62 with 10 boards and only 5.7 assists per game.
F: Aaron Gordon – playing quite well and somehow retaining legs for 43 percent shooting from deep, losing rebounds because he keeps having to try and guard everyone.
F: Michael Porter Jr. – 18 and seven rebounds and another 62 percent'ish True Shooting for MPJr., but he also won't notice it if you run right by him. He'll be like, who was that?
G: Christian Braun – takes a three every 12 minutes and hits 40 percent of them but he is an odd one, led all "perimeter" players in dunks with 94, only teammate Michael Porter Jr. came close with 88, Jayson Tatum had 79.
G: Jamal Murray – returned for two mop-up games to end the season following 15 days off with a hamstring strain. Was OK.

If we look at his 2024-25 box scores, it is as if the ACL injury never happened. Living with Jamal, however, working through his limitations and week-to-week setbacks, is another story. Managed a 52/52/1.000 split in four games against the Clippers this season, 20 points and six assists per game.

Among the many honorable things Michael Malone has done in his life is lose a job for Russell Westbrook. We won't forget you for this, Mr. Malone, we will not.

Russell hit 68 percent of his shots at the rim but I bet 68 percent of that 68 percent scooted (not rolled) around the rim before somehow falling in, Marble Madness-style.

Ever play on a rim that's 10-feet and six-inches off the ground? The way the ball loses spin in the upper atmosphere? That's Westbrook, gathering a pass, leaving us all with Anti-Strickland Anxiety. I developed my ASA in the 1990s, watching Ron Harper and his zero knees attempt layups from a few inches off the floor.

Peyton Watson hit 14-30 on threes in March, four starts, had more blocks than Ivica Zubac in 1000 fewer minutes ... Jalen Pickett worked quite well in Jamal Murray's absence, 53/50/75 as a starter (four games, three close losses, one win over Sacramento) and 40/37/75 as a reserve (45 games) ... DeAndre Jordan is gonna play, it's gonna be great, Ben Simmons might be out there at the same time ... Julian Strawther hasn't hit a three-pointer since February but we all saw him out there these last few days, he's fine. He's FINE.

These teams split the season series, the most recent game was on Jan. 8, a date best known by me for being Gaby Hoffman's birthday and was that out loud.

NO. 5 CLIPPERS

C: Ivica Zubac – referees do not want to decide this series and Zubac knows this. He isn't dirty or annoying but he is smart and athletic and at this point famously best-suited to take on the work of limiting Nikola Jokic to 28-point triple-doubles.
F: Kawhi Leonard – will be encouraged, by Nuggets head coach David Adelman, to defeat Denver with a collection of one-on-one moves and long two-pointers. Kawhi opens his eyes, slightly, just enough to let us know he wanted to create a reaction with parts of his face.
G/F: Norman Powell – space between games and simplified travel could be a boon to some under-the-radar healers, Norm Powell counts as one of these. A few nights in the same hotel and he could knock in eight threes in a game.
G: Kris Dunn – lockdown defender also suited to sit back and mind the lanes in a series such, as, this. Would like to see Dunn get in the way of some of Jokic's better ideas.
G: James Harden – will have to work defensively against Denver, never in question, but what a great warmup series if we believe.

Do we believe? We have no reason to, James Harden should not fall off, Kawhi Leonard should not tear anything, each proved in 2024-25 they boast championship-level abilities, still. Still! Of all the superteams, could this be the one? We've had so many, since Danny Ainge returned Billy King's call(s) in 2013.

Gosh, it would be funny if the Clippers just won game after game until we had no choice, mathematically, to give the Clippers a championship trophy.

Feels like only yesterday we were grabbing our combs, on account of Picture Day, complaining that commissioner Lawrence O'Brien hadn't decided upon which Clippers to send to Portland as free agent compensation for signing Bill Walton:

Bogdan Bogdanovic was terrific after becoming a Clipper, L.A. did a sound enough job hiding him defensively and saving legs.

Can he pull up and splash against a committed defense, one which isn't in town for a single contest? Bogdan is the B-Factor, once again. B-Factor is a thing. Making it a thing. B-Factor.

Nicolas Batum might make the Nuggets wish they'd signed Nicolas Batum ... Amir Coffey lost minutes once B-Factor came on board, once Ben Simmons showed up, but Coffey knows what to do with it once the ball swings his way ... Simmons, less so, but he remains exciting every so often when Ben forgets that he's forgotten how to play basketball ... Derrick Jones Jr. is still a dunk-fest and growing in defensive capacity as he ages ... Drew Eubanks didn't play as much this season but he's going to get minutes this series and he's going to have to runnnnnnnn.

Can the hottest team in the NBA simply be outplayed, without unease, distraction, injury or letdown?

This one is wild. The Clippers should roll with it, the Nuggets should fade, but the Nugs thrived (for three entire NBA games) under David Adelman. Tyronn Lue might be this game's best coach and he could lose a shot at the championship to a guy on his fourth NBA game as head coach. Not counting the times the referees asked Michael Malone to leave the court.

Three games is nothing, I get it, it doesn't amend any longtime habits on the Nuggets, three games under Adelman won't fix MPJ's insistence on playing upright and it won't change the accuracy on free throws. That's what the Clippers' stupid building is for.

Denver's attempts at dependable defense is admirable, and few clamp like these Clippers, but we could see some utter offensive classics, games where defense does not matter because greatness is afoot. A very sore foot.

This Western bracket is full of unfair. None of these four deserve to be labeled an opening round flameout upon ouster. Two teams will eventually be out, out like the hair upon Ron Oester's head when Oester lost that bet, but I can't get behind the idea of the Nuggets or Clippers or Lakers or Timberwolves screwing up. Even in defeat.

That's the West, though.

This is the bracket LeBron and Kawhi and Harden wanted to join. The Conference Luka and Jokic and Ant and Rudy re-signed to. They had a chance at Cleveland, coulda coupled with Chicago, or Charlotte. Indiana had cap space. Not crying for these millionaires, not when they get to watch weekday basketball at 4 in the afternoon.

Watching the Nuggets at 9:30 and the Clippers at 10:30 was one of this season's great times, bummer it has to end.

SAT, MON, THU, SAT, TUE, THU, SAT

Nuggets go up 3-1, Clippers win series 4-3

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE